Penaltelli

[LeTallecWiz]

Phooey. Balotelli being the immature oaf that he is, Hendo knew there'd be trouble if he said no, and the situation was bad enough already.

I think you're letting your dislike of Balotelli guide you here ... Balotelli is the best penalty taker on the pitch, and rarely misses them (I think he's missed 2 in his career), and wanted it. You WANT that in a striker, and you WANT Hendo's handling of it, because it shows they were both aware of the situation. Balotelli has been key in 3 important goals over the last 3 games - one to keep us in a strong position to get 4th, one to keep us on our quest to end Stevie's season with a FA Cup medal and one to give us a slender lead going to Istanpool. He looks leaner, hungrier and at his menacing best (i.e. pissing opponents off and not reacting - he did this brilliantly against Palace). That is good for us ... and I think he's still got a future here, and a bright one at that.

 

[Mystic]

Phooey. Balotelli being the immature oaf that he is, Hendo knew there'd be trouble if he said no, and the situation was bad enough already.

You're seeing what you want to see there.

 

[Judge Jules]

First: you fellas seem to be admitting that Balotelli did wrong after all. Second: do you imagine Stevie did that lightly? Do you think he was unaware of what a big step it was to take? Under normal circs it's defo preferable to deal with these things in-house. Stevie's words - and those of Rodgers about Balotelli in the past - are those of guys who have tried and failed to make any impression on the great lummox any other way, thereby joining a long line of others in football who've had the exact same experience.

Balotelli is poison. Look at this debate if you want evidence of how he creates dividing lines. We HAVE to get rid of him, and pronto.

 

[Silver Sean]

As usual a load of hystrionics from a media that has no interest in sport, only in finding the 'talking point'. Utter cunts. I despise them all.

30 years ago we'd have laughed about it and it would have become an after dinner speech anecdote when the players hung up their boots.
Also, if the manager thinks that Henderson is a better bet for a late penalty then the fault lies with him. Ballotelli should ALWAYS be nailed on as peno taker.
Stevie should have kept his trap shut.

 

[Red Astaire]

Yup have to agree with Fabs and Spion. No-one is really mentioning Sturridge's little hissy fit either. He walked off back to the half way line and didn't celebrate with them. You can see in one shot Can calling out to him looking pissed off telling him (I presume) 'Get back and here and show a little solidarity'.... He didn't though and just walked off.

Gerrard in the studio tried to praise Sturridge for his part in the debacle (paraphrasing) 'To be fair to Sturridge he acted decently' only to get interrupted by Reid.

Someone earlier mentioned he thought Gerrard clearly dislikes Mario and I have to say I agree.

 

[Judge Jules]

Well, I'm going to turn those accusations back at you guys and say you're *not* seeing what you're desperate not to see. Remember that overused but true saying that "There's no 'I' in 'team"? If Balotelli carries on like this - and he will - our team ethos flies out the window and that will VASTLY outweigh any short-term gains he might bring. Wise up, gentlemen.

 

[peterhague]

Henderson has apparently taken one penalty in his career, in a penalty shootout for Sunderland, which he missed. If it's really true that Rodgers wanted him to take it even with Balotelli on the pitch, then I suppose I'd have to grudgingly concede that Mario was wrong to intervene.

But it seems impossible. Surely all that happened is he forgot to make clear the pecking order taking account of all possible substitutions.

 

[Fabio]

First: you fellas seem to be admitting that Balotelli did wrong after all. Second: do you imagine Stevie did that lightly? Do you think he was unaware of what a big step it was to take? Under normal circs it's defo preferable to deal with these things in-house. Stevie's words - and those of Rodgers about Balotelli in the past - are those of guys who have tried and failed to make any impression on the great lummox any other way, thereby joining a long line of others in football who've had the exact same experience.

Balotelli is poison. Look at this debate if you want evidence of how he creates dividing lines. We HAVE to get rid of him, and pronto.

So Suarez was poison? Gerrard this season is poison? Rafa?

They all created dividing lines on here.

I think Gerrard did it very easily. When Reid is defending a player ahead of his own captain, I think it's appalling.

Balotelli has come back in to the squad and so far has 1) got us 3 points against Spurs, 2)helped us progress in the FA Cup 3) important europa league home victory. Add to the fact he actually looks more of a team player and is putting in a shift.

He's not moaned, or thrown a hissy fit when dropped, he's just got on with it.

It's different to the situation Everton had recently as their usual penalty taker was on the pitch. We didn't have one yesterday. It was a trial and error thing to give it to hendo as he might have been the best player on them at kick off, but he certainly wasn't at full time.

Mario dragged hendo towards him to celebrate with him to thank him for letting him take it. That's not something someone would do if it was all about him

 

[mark1975]

So basically, Gerrard doesn't like Mario. Let's face it, that's the crux of it. If there's an egotistical disruptive figure there, why not deflect all of the blame and criticism onto him? Sturridge acted like a selfish prick, like much of his play last night, but he got a massive reprieve from most.

 

[Fabio]

Yup have to agree with Fabs and Spion. No-one is really mentioning Sturridge's little hissy fit either. He walked off back to the half way line and didn't celebrate with them. You can see in one shot Can calling out to him looking pissed off telling him (I presume) 'Get back and here and show a little solidarity'.... He didn't though and just walked off.

Gerrard in the studio tried to praise Sturridge for his part in the debacle (paraphrasing) 'To be fair to Sturridge he acted decently' only to get interrupted by Reid.

Someone earlier mentioned he thought Gerrard clearly dislikes Mario and I have to say I agree.

Very true.

All this talk of the me me me from Mario.... Sturridge was a lot worse by not celebrating. That shows a lack of team ethic.

I'm glad Can my hero tried to pull him on it

 

[doctor_mac]

Mario is used to taking penos wherever he goes, and rightly so, he's fucking boss at them.

Gerrard mouthing off isn't just against the Liverpool way of sorting things in-house, but against the dressing room code of every sports team on the planet. You don't slag your teammates off in public. Doesn't matter if you want to throttle them.

Storm in a teacup, but SG made it a 'story'.

 

[Fabio]

I'm sure Macca (sorry if it's not) has said in the past that Gerrard when in a bad mood is poison in the dressing room (paraphrasing) , frowning and acting the cunt.

Least Mario cuts a happy figure when not on the pitch

 

[Buddha]

Phooey. Balotelli being the immature oaf that he is, Hendo knew there'd be trouble if he said no, and the situation was bad enough already.

That's conjecture JJ. Ballotelli hardly seemed to be spoiling for a fight when he approached Henderson.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Well, I'm going to turn those accusations back at you guys and say you're *not* seeing what you're desperate not to see. Remember that overused but true saying that "There's no 'I' in 'team"? If Balotelli carries on like this - and he will - our team ethos flies out the window and that will VASTLY outweigh any short-term gains he might bring. Wise up, gentlemen.

'carries on like this'? You mean having a hand in all winning goals in the last 3 games and working his ass off? Oh yes, please do ... and let's continue to defend the captain blindly - because that is EXACTLY what we expect from Liverpool captains. Balotelli and Hendo showed there was no "I" in team, Studge didn't (the player who's gone on record numerous times to say he loves Mario) and neither did Stevie.

I get it - you don't like Balotelli but he's quickly becoming a key member of a fearsome 5 attacking talent (Ibe, Studge, Sterling, Coutinho and him)

 

[Fabio]

Henderson has apparently taken one penalty in his career, in a penalty shootout for Sunderland, which he missed. If it's really true that Rodgers wanted him to take it even with Balotelli on the pitch, then I suppose I'd have to grudgingly concede that Mario was wrong to intervene.

But it seems impossible. Surely all that happened is he forgot to make clear the pecking order taking account of all possible substitutions.

You know what, even if hendo was meant to take it, I don't care. That's shocking from Rodgers to do that.

I'm happy Mario went against club code or whatever bollocks it is, because if there's one thing he can do, it's knock penalties in with apparent ease. And I'm pleased hendo let him take it.

Wrong or not, results are paramount

 

[Judge Jules]

Fabs: if what you say about Balotelli at the end were true, do you think he'd have had to drag Hendo anywhere? I know Balotelli's been doing better recently - matter of fact I've praised him for it myself - but none of that will matter when stacked up against the kind of painfully obvious rift he caused on the pitch last night. If Stevie dislikes the guy it's because of his behaviour and the threat that poses to our ongoing success. A couple of improved performances coming on as sub don't even begin to counterbalance that.

Mark mate: Sturridge wasn't great last night but he's just back from months out with injury, and his response to Balotelli's behaviour was clearly the polar opposite of "selfish" as he wasn't going to take the pen anyway. He was reacting to Balotelli's own display of Selfishness with a capital "S".

 

[Mystic]

Well, I'm going to turn those accusations back at you guys and say you're *not* seeing what you're desperate not to see. Remember that overused but true saying that "There's no 'I' in 'team"? If Balotelli carries on like this - and he will - our team ethos flies out the window and that will VASTLY outweigh any short-term gains he might bring. Wise up, gentlemen.

I'm the biggest Henderson fanboy on this site, if anything I'd be crying bloody murder at Balotelli.

 

[dmishra]

Henderson has apparently taken one penalty in his career, in a penalty shootout for Sunderland, which he missed. If it's really true that Rodgers wanted him to take it even with Balotelli on the pitch, then I suppose I'd have to grudgingly concede that Mario was wrong to intervene.

But it seems impossible. Surely all that happened is he forgot to make clear the pecking order taking account of all possible substitutions.

It's really not that difficult. We have three penalty specialists in the squad - Gerrard, Balotelli and Lambert.

I can understand the confusion if two or more of them are on the pitch at the same time, but when there's only one of them on the pitch, it really isn't fucking hard.

Ground rules for Rodgers:

1. Set out the hierarchy between Gerrard, Balotelli and Lambert if they happen to be on the pitch at the same time.
2. Clear instructions that if only one of them is on the pitch, they obviously take it before anyone else.
3. Designate the hierarchy in their absence

 

[Fabio]

Fabs: if what you say about Balotelli at the end were true, do you think he'd have had to drag Hendo anywhere? I know Balotelli's been doing better recently - matter of fact I've praised him for it myself - but none of that will matter when stacked up against the kind of painfully obvious rift he caused on the pitch last night. If Stevie dislikes the guy it's because of his behaviour and the threat that poses to our ongoing success. A couple of improved performances coming on as sub don't even begin to counterbalance that.

I honestly don't know why hendo didn't gambol over to him. He probably was pissed off he didn't take the penalty, but he shouldn't have been taking it anyway. It's poor from Rodgers if it's not been laid out pre match.

Stevie dislikes the guy because he's Gerrard and generally acts the cunt if he doesn't get his way

 

[gkmacca]

Gerrard undermining a teammate when doing punditry is a lot worse for me than Mario winning a game for us

Stevie is the nearest ITV have got to a performing monkey since they retired the PGTips team.

 

[hmmmmm1]

The story isn't about Balo, its about SG not keeping his thoughts to himself while on live tv.

 

[Red Astaire]

I think that's a fair call about BR actually. It should have been made clear that if Mario was on the pitch he takes the pens. I predict sometime around 2pm in his presser he will deflect some of the criticism from the players and accept part responsibility for that. That would be a good way to diffuse the situation I think. We'll see I guess.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

If Stevie dislikes the guy it's because of his behaviour and the threat that poses to our ongoing success. A couple of improved performances coming on as sub don't even begin to counterbalance that..

The last 3 games - 2 game deciding goals and one game deciding assist. So yes, definitely posing a threat to our ongoing success.

Do you really give a flying fuck if Stevie likes or dislikes anyone? Would you defend Stevie's oft 'fracture the team on the pitch' scowls and stares? Remember who hated Hughes back in the day? How did that threaten our team?

Fucking shambolic move by a captain who's backtracking like crazy - as per his instagram posts - because he realizes he's counterbalancing a hungry, motivated team in the media.

 

[rurikbird]

JJ, I am usually very protective of team morale, but here I really don't think Balotelli did much wrong. He didn't steal a candy from Henderson, he took the responsibility of taking a penalty at 0:0. You want your striker to have this confidence sometimes bordering on arrogance. I'm sorry, you can't buy Balotelli and then expect him to behave like Joe Allen – and that would be a huge waste if he did.

Gerrard's Instagram post to me says he knows he was wrong to say what he said. He let his personal likes and dislikes get better of him in the moment, which is why, again, a current player should never be allowed to be a pundit on TV.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Have Sky had a poll yet to decide who should have taken the penalty?

Incidentally I read somewhere last night that Henderson has only ever taken one penalty in a match. It was for Sunderland in 2009, and he missed.

 

[Judge Jules]

The last 3 games - 2 game deciding goals and one game deciding assist. So yes, definitely posing a threat to our ongoing success.

Do you really give a flying fuck if Stevie likes or dislikes anyone? Would you defend Stevie's oft 'fracture the team on the pitch' scowls and stares? Remember who hated Hughes back in the day? How did that threaten our team?

Fucking shambolic move by a captain who's backtracking like crazy - as per his instagram posts - because he realizes he's counterbalancing a hungry, motivated team in the media.

Your first point is dreadfully short-termist, old friend. Look at the dissension on the pitch last night, look at this debate on here now, look at Balotelli's employment history and you'll see - as if you didn't know anyway - what I'm talking about.

I give a flying f'ck if Stevie or anyone else dislikes someone because they're having a destructive effect on the team. Not only would I not defend the kind of behaviour from Stevie that you describe, I've said before now that I don't think he's a good captain because of it (and been criticised heavily for that). None of that makes any difference to the fact - and it IS a fact - that he's right about Balotelli.

 

[dantes]

Balls. Football's about the team. Stop blaming everybody else and start blaming the idiot who caused the whole thing.

No the team doesn't take a penalty. It was about the best man for the job in that team. Sturridge and Gerrard were butt hurt because they can't admit that Balotelli was the best man. Fuck them and their disingenuous soundbites about the team.

 

[mark1975]

Fabs: if what you say about Balotelli at the end were true, do you think he'd have had to drag Hendo anywhere? I know Balotelli's been doing better recently - matter of fact I've praised him for it myself - but none of that will matter when stacked up against the kind of painfully obvious rift he caused on the pitch last night. If Stevie dislikes the guy it's because of his behaviour and the threat that poses to our ongoing success. A couple of improved performances coming on as sub don't even begin to counterbalance that.

Mark mate: Sturridge wasn't great last night but he's just back from months out with injury, and his response to Balotelli's behaviour was clearly the polar opposite of "selfish" as he wasn't going to take the pen anyway. He was reacting to Balotelli's own display of Selfishness with a capital "S".

I think as people have said, it was a storm in a teacup. He wanted to take it and he's a good penalty taker. Henderson tried to act like the go between but in the end had to let him take it, whether being a pacifier makes a good captain is an argument for another day. I'm far from Mario's fan, but it was good to see him go straight to Hendo and acknowledge the decision, equally had he missed, I'd have expected to see him still acknowledge it and hold his hands up. Sturridge is a massive player for me, but you can see undercurrents of his much exaggerated attitude occasionally, and he showed it last night with the response to the goal.

Gerrard should have said fuck all, regardless of peoples respective opinions about who was in the wrong, his response overshadowed the "incident" and made it a story. It was, in the grand scheme of things, a nothing story. It's the kind of thing that happens at many clubs, when you've got a lot of top players vying for various roles and responsibilities. Gerrard just jumped on the anti-Mario bandwagon, holding hands with the media in defiance against someone who should only be getting a shoeing either from the manager, or as said, behind closed doors. It just left a sour taste that's all, he's so surly and bitter at times, it's not he kind of traits I'd hold in high esteem, particularly if he's looking at going into management at some point, he seems to have all the petulance of a child at times. He needs to remove the chip off his shoulder and he might become a leader in the greater sense.

 

[ILD]

I honestly don't know why hendo didn't gambol over to him. He probably was pissed off he didn't take the penalty, but he shouldn't have been taking it anyway. It's poor from Rodgers if it's not been laid out pre match.

Stevie dislikes the guy because he's Gerrard and generally acts the cunt if he doesn't get his way

I agree with you that Balotelli should have taken the pen but how did Gerrard not get his way here? Gerrard's comment would imply he doesn't like Balotelli because he probably see's Balo as a potential bad influence around the club.

I just don't get the 'Gerrard acted the cunt because he didn't get his way'. It doesn't apply in this situation??

 

[Judge Jules]

JJ, I am usually very protective of team morale, but here I really don't think Balotelli did much wrong. He didn't steal a candy from Henderson, he took the responsibility of taking a penalty at 0:0. You want your striker to have this confidence sometimes bordering on arrogance. I'm sorry, you can't buy Balotelli and then expect him to behave like Joe Allen – and that would be a huge waste if he did.

Gerrard's Instagram post to me says he knows he was wrong to say what he said.

He publicly went against team orders and challenged his captain, who then had to let him have his way or risk stoking up the incident - bad enough already - into something even worse. I want my striker to have that quasi-arrogance when he's through on goal with a giant keeper to beat. I don't want him to display it in yesterday's circumstances. Last night it worked out, but in the future our performances as a team will suffer if this continues.